The African National Congress (ANC) says it will strengthen its deployment strategy to include the introduction of succession planning.

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula briefed the media on the outcomes from the recent ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and lekgotla.

“The NEC also noted that any organisation worthy of a future should plan generational succession ensuring that there is transfer of experience and intergeneration exchange of innovative solutions to intractable challenges,” Mbalula explained.

The ANC is seeking another term as the ruling party, as South Africans gear up to cast what could be a defining vote in 2024.

The ANC says it will strengthen and intensify its political education and make it compulsory for all ANC public representatives.

Through the OR Tambo School of Leadership, the ANC would also implement a programme to improve the quality of leadership. To complement this training, induction manuals of the ANC would be improved, Mbalula stated.

Further, to represent more minorities in its NEC, the party has co-opted four people into its 87-member, highest decision-making body: Mapaseka “Steve” Letsike, Gerhard Koornhof, Fawzia Peer and Alvin Botes.

The elected members of the National Working Committee, meanwhile, exceeds by 5% the party’s 50:50 Gender Parity Principle and includes Mmamoloko Kubayi, Barbara Creecy, Enoch Godongwana, Tina Joemat Petterson, Zizi Kodwa, Ronald Lamola, David Mahlobo, Pemmy Majodina, Thandi Modise, Sibongile Besani, Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, Mdumiseni Ntuli, Angie Motshekga, Senzo Mchunu, Mondli Gungubele, Mduduzi Manana, Peggy Nkonyeni, Thembi Nkadimeng, Nonceba Mhauli and Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

ENERGY

Meanwhile, Mbalula said the NEC wanted President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a National State of Disaster in the face of the country’s crippling energy crisis.

He said this would require that the party reconnect with communities and society, as the ANC did not have a monopoly on ideas.

He urged society to work with the ANC to resolve the energy challenge.

Mbalula noted that in trying to build and maintain infrastructure capacity, the key concern was vandalism, which had posed a risk to resolving the energy crisis, and which was further compounded by the fact that at present six power stations were not in operation.

He noted that ANC national chairperson and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe had advocated for the improved performance of Eskom at existing power stations, while current capacity was upgraded and expanded in the context of the Energy Action Plan and the Just Energy Transition as proposed by the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM).

The lekgotla also called for acceleration of the work of the NECOM, by using the State of Disaster legislation to bring about a multi-sphere command centre to better manage the crisis.

Mbulala said there were billions of rands which were projected to be underspent and called for the reprioritisation of the funds to address the energy crisis.

This can be complemented by the redesign of existing grants to optimise and aggregate infrastructure financing and capacities, he added.

He said in facilitating vibrant economic growth and resilient infrastructure, the government will implement mega and catalytic infrastructure projects that will include new cities, the construction of government buildings, maintenance, as well as integrated transport and corridors.